Vegas Play of the Day: Rockies at Cubs

By Case Keefer (contact)

Tuesday, July 29, 2014 | 10:21 a.m.

My master plan to stay afloat in the South Point-lined Play of the Day until football season is well underway.

I’m going to tread lightly on baseball for my next handful of wagers in an effort to not subject my $10,000 starting bankroll to too much variance. Football awaits.

Colorado Rockies minus-102 at Chicago Cubs: $204 to win $200

I initially started looking at this game with interest on betting the over. Neither Chicago starter Edwin Jackson nor Colorado starter Jorge De La Rosa inspire too much confidence, and both are on the trading block with the deadline approaching.

The total of 7.5 runs looked low. Upon closer glance, my suspicions on Jackson were confirmed. He’s been one of the worst starters in baseball over the summer, not notching a single win in his last six starts while posting an above 7 ERA.

But De La Rosa has been quietly solid, with a nearly sub-3 ERA in the same span while going 5-0. He also has a positive history in five career starts against the Cubs.

Both teams are horrendous, with the Cubs actually a half-game ahead of the Rockies in the standings. But that shouldn’t hold.

The Rockies are a better team and should go on a run when their bats come out of hibernation. Jackson should oblige in offering a dose of sunlight.

Standings: Bern (40-27-1, $14,234), Keefer (32-36, $9,146), Brewer (28-37-3, $3,955)

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.